U.S. PET Bottle Recycling Rate Hit Multi-Decade High in 2023

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): According to 2023 PET Recycling Report published by the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), the PET bottle recycling rates across the U.S. reached the highest level in decades. The amount of recycled PET (rPET) in bottles hit an all-time high.

In 2023, 33% of PET bottles were collected in the United States, up from 29% in 2022. It was the highest collecting rate in almost 30 years. Compared to 2022, the number of PET plastic bottles collected increased during the year, but the number of recyclable bottles decreased. In 2023, the United States gathered 1,962 million pounds of PET bottles for recycling.

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According to the NAPCOR data, there were 5,952 million pounds of PET bottles available for recycling in the United States last year, compared to 6,599 million pounds the year before. Meanwhile, the percentage of rPET content in US bottles hit a record 16.2 percent. In 2023, 966 million pounds of rPET were used in US bottles, up from 870 million pounds in 2022.

The survey highlights the increasing need for PCR material, said Laura Stewart, executive director of NAPCOR. In order to increase PET plastic collection and recycling, NAPCOR is dedicated to collaborating with the government and other interested parties.